I'm gonna give some grades on the cards I have had a chance to test. My playgroup got a good amount of drafts in over the holidays, also did some cube sealed. I really hope this project gets up and running again.
Ravnica Allegiance: Pteramander: Really good in the spells matter archetype. Still playable in most blue decks. - 3 Sage's Row Savant: I like it, but I don't know if I like it more than Omenspeaker. It smooths out the draws and it usually trades with something. I thought I would like the 2/1 body more in aggressive decks, but it never survives combat. - 2 Aven Eternal: Really good stats. I think I'm gonna put it back in for Eldrazi Skyspawner. - 3 Orzhov Enforcer: It's been really good in the aristocrats deck. Good road block against aggro. - 2 Light Up the Stage: I want this card in every aggressive R/X deck. It's good in spells matter too. - 3 Trollbred Guardian: I have minor synergies with +1/+1 counters and its good enough on its own. The threat of activation is real. - 2 Rhythm of the Wild: This is exactly what Gruul wants. No one has ever gone for persist combo in my playgroup. - 3 Frilled Mystic: Sometimes it is a complete blowout, but it can be hard to cast. - 3 Sphinx of the Guildpact: Almost impossible to kill in my cube. - 3
Ready to build my first cube! This is also my first post on mtgsalvation, sorry in advance for any formatting/etiquette issues. I have spent some time researching and putting these cards together. Going to buy a few I don't own yet and start drafting in the next month. I guess I just want to some reassurance and/or critique regarding some of my decisions. Are there any glaring omissions? Are any of these cards just horrible?
I am including Skullclamp, Curse of Predation and others that I have seen banned in other cubes. Would like my playgroup to make those decisions for ourselves. I am including the pain-lands because it seemed fun and I happen to have a bunch of copies laying around.
I added all of the playable phyrexian mana Mutagenic Growth, suspend Keldon Halberdier, rebound and flashback cards to best support Clarion Spirit and Bloodsky Berserker after Kaldheim came out. It was really fun and relatively easy to hit the double spell triggers. Clarion Spirit seems flat out good. I think I am going to add Captain Ripley Vance and more storm support in the Temur colors. Maybe even bring back Illusory Angel.
I am excited for the +1/+1 support Scurry Oak. I might try a madness package Blazing Rootwalla and reintroduce some recently cut red/black cards Bloodrage Brawler.
Garruk, Primal Hunter or Garruk, Unleashed?
Sarkhan the Masterless or Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker?
Other suggestions are welcome.
Ravnica Allegiance:
Pteramander: Really good in the spells matter archetype. Still playable in most blue decks. - 3
Sage's Row Savant: I like it, but I don't know if I like it more than Omenspeaker. It smooths out the draws and it usually trades with something. I thought I would like the 2/1 body more in aggressive decks, but it never survives combat. - 2
Aven Eternal: Really good stats. I think I'm gonna put it back in for Eldrazi Skyspawner. - 3
Orzhov Enforcer: It's been really good in the aristocrats deck. Good road block against aggro. - 2
Light Up the Stage: I want this card in every aggressive R/X deck. It's good in spells matter too. - 3
Trollbred Guardian: I have minor synergies with +1/+1 counters and its good enough on its own. The threat of activation is real. - 2
Rhythm of the Wild: This is exactly what Gruul wants. No one has ever gone for persist combo in my playgroup. - 3
Frilled Mystic: Sometimes it is a complete blowout, but it can be hard to cast. - 3
Sphinx of the Guildpact: Almost impossible to kill in my cube. - 3
War of the Spark:
Law-Rune Enforcer: The best tapper in my opinion. The colorless activation is key. - 3
Saheeli, Sublime Artificer: I force the spells matter deck every time I see this card. I am probably overrating it. - 3
Kasmina, Enigmatic Mentor: Great value if it survives a turn. The static ability is a bonus. - 2
Callous Dismissal: I love bounce effects. You can't blink it like Mist Raven, but it has synergies with spells matter. - 2
Eternal Taskmaster: Even if I don't use the activated ability, I like the 2/3 body in aggro. - 2
Lazotep Reaver: Aristocrats support. Better than Dragon Fodder, which I am currently playing. - 1
Ob Nixilis, the Hate-Twisted: It's okay in aristocrats and as an aggro finisher. I don't like any black 5-drops very much, except for Syr Konrad, the Grim. - 1
Bleeding Edge: Feels like Fire Imp, which is one of my favorite cards. It is harder to cast. - 3
Tibalt, Rakish Instigator: It supports aristocrats and go-wide. The static ability comes up big sometimes. - 2
Angrath, Captain of Chaos: I think this is red's third best 4-drop after Flametongue Kavu and Keldon Champion. - 3
Paradise Druid: I play this in every green deck. - 3
Kiora, Behemoth Beckoner: I never get that many 4-power triggers and untapping a land enchanted with Utopia Sprawl or Squirrel Nest doesn't happen enough. If it wasn't a hybrid, I wouldn't play it. - 1
MH1, M20, C19, and ELD are on the way. Unfortunately, Theros was ruined by quarantine.
Incinerate ---> Anax, Hardened in the Forge
Keldon Marauders ---> Careless Celebrant, surprised more people don't mention this one.
Longtusk Cub ---> Chainweb Aracnir
Nantuko Husk ---> Mire Triton
Hunting Triad ---> Renata, Called to the Hunt
Sandsteppe Outcast---> Daybreak Chimera
Ardenvale Tactician --- Test of Faith. Versatile. Both effects solid.
Foulmire Knight --- Wretched Anurid. I think this is the best version of Typhoid Rats.
Order of Midnight --- Fledgling Djinn. Easy swap.
Overall, not much to be excited about.
Can you bring back the creature you sacrifice?
Invigorate --> Scale Up. Not instant speed but higher ceiling.
Momentary Blink --> Soulherder. Favorite card in the set.
Azure Mage --> Watcher for Tomorrow. No risk of not getting an activation, blink target, but comes in tapped. We will see.
Pyrewild Shaman --> Alpine Guide. No one plays shaman. And ramping, even just for the next turn, seems good.
Waterfront Bouncer --> Cunning Evasion. No one liked bouncer. And this card seems like it could be fun in the right deck.
Iwamori of the Open Fist --> Saddled Rimestag. Iwamori is kinda boring, would rather have another 2-drop.
Gallant Cavalry --> Rhox Veteran. Cheaper token creators are better. Battle cry is nice with 4 toughness.
Crested Herdcaller --> Mother Bear. I just want this to be good.
Fight with Fire --> Orcish Hellraiser. More 2-drops. Fight with fire too slow. May add the delve 5 damage card.
Undead Gladiator --> Gluttonous Slug. Gladiator too slow. Slug seems like it can go in a lot of decks.
Juniper Order Ranger --> Good-Fortune Unicorn. Lower CMC seems better.
Chittering Rats --> Sling-Gang Lieutenant. Love free sacrifice abilities.
bleeding edge <-- cast down, more interesting.
teferi's time twist <-- quickling, +1/+1.
burning prophet <-- thermo-alchemist, upgrade imo.
eternal taskmaster <-- wretched anurid, no one plays it.
saheeli, sublime artificer <-- jilt, fav card in the set.
evolution sage <-- manaplasm, +1/+1.
paradise druid <-- borderland explorer, upgrade.
kasmina, enigmatic mentor <-- tetsuko umezawa, fugitive, better on its own.
kiora, behemoth beckoner <-- snakeform, running enchant lands.
merfolk skydiver <-- lorescale coatl, nice mana-sink.
mowu, loyal companion <-- druid's familiar, +1/+1.
pledge of unity <-- travel preparations, instant speed.
aven eternal <-- sprite noble, no one plays it.
Curious to hear what you all think about Orzhov Advokist? Another commander card. Been really good in my playgroup.
Ready to build my first cube! This is also my first post on mtgsalvation, sorry in advance for any formatting/etiquette issues. I have spent some time researching and putting these cards together. Going to buy a few I don't own yet and start drafting in the next month. I guess I just want to some reassurance and/or critique regarding some of my decisions. Are there any glaring omissions? Are any of these cards just horrible?
I am including Skullclamp, Curse of Predation and others that I have seen banned in other cubes. Would like my playgroup to make those decisions for ourselves. I am including the pain-lands because it seemed fun and I happen to have a bunch of copies laying around.
The archetypes I want to support are:
Azorius - Blink
Boros - Go wide
Dimir - Reanimate/control??
Golgari - Graveyard stuff
Gruul - Aggro/midrange??
Izzet - Spells matter
Orzhov - Aristocrats
Rakdos - Aggro
Selesnya - Counters
Simic - NO IDEA
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!